TVB "Ah Wang" tv series - "Life made simpler"

This is my favourite Hong Kong TV Series.. It's inspiring & reminds me to be good and to try to live a simpler life! ;-)

Eye of the Storm

Practice Being in the
"Eye of the Storm"
commit to staying clam.
U will enjoy yourself more.

Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus

This is embarrassing. Till now, i cant differentiate squid, cuttlefish & octopus.. and their differences.. ;-(

Finally, pushed myself to investigate and i'm now quite enlightened! ;-)

All these 3 sea creatures have 3 hearts! and 8 arms! They are also considered smart too! And not all their 'brain' are located in the 'head'.. some are spread on their arms! That's why their arms are as smart.. amazing..

I cant bring much justice to them.. will just have to let other websites enlighten us more ;-)

Wikipedia: Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus.

Perspectives, complexity

A dice has six sides. But the world we live in has numerous sides.

Numerous perspectives. Therefore, we have to be alert and be able to think & see from as many perspectives as possible. 

This world is complex. But we always tried to see things in simpler ways.

That's why we invented matrix, formulas to make things easier for us to see.

Yes, these things work but within constraints. For example, gravity formula will not work on moon. 

Nevertheless, we do need them. And yes, i love matrix. But i know it's limitation. We must be aware and conscious of them. Otherwise, we will fail. 

And fail men shall be.. thru greed, pride and great ego. So be humble, honest & caring instead. We always think we are tough. We are strong. Look at the people around us and you will also see how weak we can be. We break our bones easily. Yes, we can be tough in our mind.. thru mind practicing/training. Ignorance has no excuse, however. 

So how shall we live this world? Thru wisdom, knowledge of this world, meditation & true compassion. Yes, we still need those simplified tools. But we need to know their limitations.

Blessings.

Singapore Crab Beehoon

Making Strategy

i think i strike gold. after years of studying, getting my MBA, reading tons on mgmt, i finally completed my understanding on making strategy.. of course, practice makes perfect.

in a nutshell, there're basically two big steps - strategy formulation and strategy implementation. Strategy implementation usually uses balanced scorecard to assist. Strategy formulation has tons of tools to assist as well.. such as PEST analysis, SWOT analysis, scenarios planning, issue-based to strategy making. But these tools only provide insights to strategy making. 

The ultimate strategy formulation still depends on the leaders and senior mgmt to figure it out. It's here, where i always felt that there is a missing step between formulation & implementation. It's the strategy definition, or the art of articulating that strategy so that it is easily understood by everyone in the organization that matter most.

What's the use of having an excellent strategy where nobody understands, and therefore, no one knows how to implement them!

And i found the answer via Harvard Business Review April 2008 publication on Can You Say What Your Strategy Is?

In the article, in a nutshell:

• MISSION: Why we exist
  
• VALUES: What we believe in and how we will behave
  
• VISION: What we want to be
  
• Strategy: What our competitive game plan will be.
  
• Basic elements of strategy statement are OBJECTIVE=ends, SCOPE=domain, ADVANTAGE=means
  
• BALANCED SCORECARD: How we will monitor and implement that plan

Strawberry Chiffon

My darling did it again! ;-)

This time she baked something so simple yet so delicious.. Fresh strawberries were used.. the cake is a little soggy, however.. forgiven since it's a first attempt.. 

this will be an excellent tea break item during friends gathering! 

baked chicken & carrot porridge

i will try this one of these days.. ;P

1. Pre-heat oven to 175 deg C.
2. Marinate diced chicken meat (skinless) & carrots with dark soya sauce, oyster sauce, salt & pepper.
3. Bake for 20 mins.

Cook porridge as usual.. Serve with the baked chicken & carrots sprinkled on top.

Simple. Healthier. Mmm.. wonder baked chicken how it taste like.. ;-)

Old coffeeshop changing hands

The only coffeeshop below my flat has just been sold for $5mil to a food court operating group.. hope the food varieties will improves though it's unlikely.. as we all know food court food standards.. and their prices wont be cheap.. sigh.. and with inflation we just have to manage our expenses.. ;-(

Manage to capture some shots of the old coffeeshop just weeks before it was closed for renovation! ;-)

Happiness in a nutshell

"The principles of happiness can be
learned in a nutshell.
But not the journey of happiness.
It has to be experienced."
- Kenneth Woo

Calmness & Numbness

Dont know why.. this morning i just had a realisation!

I noticed that some people are so 'calm' when even things seems to be screwing up.. And they actually think they are 'calm'..

i think they're more numb than calm.. they lost their senses to know that things are not looking good.. that's the difference between a good leader and a so-so one! ;-)

Reason and Excuse

There's a thin line between reason and excuse. It's an art form to turn an excuse into a good reason. An experience & wise person will be able to tell the difference, however.
So, develop oneself and dont rely too much on disguised excuses.. someday somehow people will see thru u.. ;P

Time to go

Chorus
Standing on the rooftop
Feeling breezes blowing
Against my face
And I know it’s time for me to go

There’s a time for everything
A time for memories
Lessons for history

As we gather one last time
To share our victories
Rejoice this life that’s free

[repeat Chorus x3]

notes: i wrote this as a farewell song.. putting the pictures in this video will help me remember them whenever i revisit this blog page.. i will miss some of my colleagues.. they're genuine nice people.. too bad i dont have the pictures of all of them.. Yup, in the end, as one of them says "Life will go on.." sad but true. Let's keep it in memory lane while we move on.. ;-)

Sometimes Attitude song

Sometimes you wake up
On the wrong side of bed
You knew someone will be
Hurt by what you said
It’s time to do something
To change the way
You’ll be a happier person
To be with..

[hum the rhythm]

It’s not that difficult
As it seems
Only a little patience
And a plan to go with
Add a little support
Here and there
You’ll see
Sunshine.. and all smiles..

notes: Sometimes Attitude is inspired by JW. Not tat she has lots of attitude.. just sometimes! ;P It's also the first time i used the macbook's garage software to create.. yup, just bought my very first macbook! ;-) and oh.. to give justice to JW.. she's actually one of my best mentee, excellent collegaue/co-worker & most trustworthy friend!! ;-) i wish her well in whatever she wants to do.. Blessings.

La Mer song in The Diving Bell & The Butterfly french movie

I like this movie though it can be disturbing.. makes me think abt my life.. Got to treasure my life..  The camera technique used is also very interesting - like seeing things thru the man's eye..

And i just loved this song coupled with the movie..  ;-)

La Mer - kewego
Song by Charles Trenet sung in French with ukulele accompanimen. Chanson Francais avec ukulele

Issue-based approach to strategy making

Issue-based approach to strategy making is less likely to produce innovative products and services. This is because it's based on existing competencies. It is suitable for solving existing issues, however. And usually in the space of operational excellence.

One possible way to break thru is to include competencies gap analysis & capabilities building into the process.. but still, it may not be good enough.

Another is to adapt the issue-based approach to opportunity-based approach. The technique is the same. In fact the competencies diagram can be shared or reused for both approaches.

An alternative and simple way to break thru innovation is to begin with a question - "What do our customers want or need?" Be truly customer-oriented. And not skills-oriented.

IPO - Ideas, People & Opportunity

I'm dreaming now.. i dreamed that i'm already a successful businessman and a reporter interviewed me. He asked "what's the secret of my success?".

I answered "IPO". ;-)

I stands for ideas. Without good, great, earth-shaking ideas there's nothing much to talk about. Not all business ideas must be earth-shaking, out of this world, however. We've all witness simple ideas implemented at the right time, right place can succeed too. Look at BreadTalk, Facebook, Google,.. They are simple ideas actually. It takes a different set of eyes to see the unobviously obvious. ;P
Not everyone can 'see' a good idea though. Great leaders are those who can identify ideas, especially different ideas that seem to oppose one another at first, and modify & made them into a better idea. Lastly, ideas must be implementable. Otherwise, it defeat the purpose of thinking about them in the first place.

P stands for people. Without good, talented people working on the idea, nothing will happen. And dont think you can just rely on your own ability. Possible but tough in today's business environment. And people is not just about those who works for you or on the project. There are other many people who will be supporting you too! Your family, spouse, friends, and not forgetting your financial assistance folks - investors, partners, suppliers,.. So, talent mgmt or people mgmt is paramount to your success. So, invest in building up your EQ today! ;-)

O stands for opportunity. The final ingredient must be opportunity. You must be given a chance to try things out. Or you wont know if it will work or not. Dont be afraid of failure or criticism. It also includes timing. If you roll out your product at the wrong time, you will be trouble too. Some products/services are ahead of its times too.. take note!

I think IPO are the key factors, in a nutshell, that determine my success. Manage them well and maybe you will succeed. That's the secret of my success.. Still dreaming ya.. ;-)

Stay positive @work

3 Ps & getting a life. Ref: Straits Times pg R32.

How do you counteract negativity in your workplan.

1st P - is it personal?
When your boss is in a bad mood & scolded you the whole morning.. When one of your seemingly neutral comments became the focal point of an argument, it may have nothing to do with you. They're just in bad mood and u happen to be there. When your boss comment abt the poor results, he may be talking abt the process or external factors beyond your control, and not abt your poor management skills.
In fact, in most cases, people are more worried about themselves and more interested about themselves than you. It's sad but true.

2nd P - is it permanent?
"This too shall pass" expression is so true! And "there's light at the end of the tunnel". It almost always happen. ;-)
Just look back at your life and you know that somehow you will just get out of a tight situation.
Like life itself, nothing stays permanent. So dont worry so much. All shall pass.

3rd P - is it the big picture?
"What's the worst scenarios?" ask yourself. In most or all cases, you wont die because of it. At most, you loose your job. That's all. And most of the time, it's not that bad afterall..

Get a life.
Work is not the only thing/task in life. Balance your life with work, friends, hobbies and family. Dont keep thinking about work all the time. I'm a victim of this too.. i always think abt my work.. so i'm still learning as well.. Have to keep reminding myself once in a while.. That's whu i'm writing it on my blog here.. ;-)

Manage Less, Inspire More

Give employees a chance to do their best

and they will look forward to working for you.

1. Adopt people focus culture.
Treat employees as most valuable assets.
Value their contributions.
Give them more responsibilities, autonomy & freedom.

2. Be a leader. Not a manager.
Micro managing doesnt make you a great leader.
Trust your people to do a good/excellent job.
Show them the way but let them walk themselves.

3. Encourage risk-taking and innovation.
Overly focus on rules, policies will kill creativity & innovation.
Allow staff to take certain level of risk to try out new things.
Allow them to take time off & provide support for such projects as well.

4. Stretch & challenge.
Most people want challenges & give it to them.
Set new standards & get them to take up the challenge.
Inject some fun and create an interesting workplace for everyone.

Networking that works - 10 tips

ref: Straits Times pg R33.

1. Before attending an event, think that you are going to spend 3 hours of your precious there, unpaid.. so better make full use of your time there.

2. Enjoy the process/event and have some fun!

3. Walk in, hold yr head up, pull yr shoulders back & smile with confidence. Just tell yourself most people are as nervous as you are there.

4. You are decent & likeable person. Believe in yourself and your expertise.

5. Plan to speak to 3 new people and gain 3 new info abt them. Identify people u wanted to meet and make sure you walk to them and intro yourself.

6. Remember that everyone's there to network. So rejection will be minimum.

7. If u meet someone who's rude & unpleasant, just move away. Focus on pleasant & welcoming folks.

8. Be interested in people than be just interesting. Let others do most of the talking while u listen attentively. Get to know them.

9. Small talk - abt travel, sports, family or hobbies.. It's the foundation of relationships.

10. Ask for their business cards and seek permission to contact them a few days later. Write down on agreed date on back of the card. As soon as you get home, write down the useful info & be prepared for the vital follow up call.

People First, Task Second

It took me many years before i realised the mistake of focusing too much on task.. Blame it on HP who started the Management By Objective concept. I took it as THE WAY..

Years on, once i was reading an article.. and this author wrote that first manage people's expectation, then manage the tasks. And bingo! i hit jackpot.. since then, i've overhauled my management belief system to People First, Tasks Second concept.

Following this, i now place talent or people management as my first/highest priority. You can never succeed in business without the assistance of your people. So, credits must be given to them.

Well, i understand that it's hard to talk abt people first when the work's fire is burning at your doorstep.. yes, it's difficult. But if you dont try or adopt such mindset, nothing's gonna happen. Bite the bullet, swallow the bitter pill.. and you will enjoy the fruit later on..

Blessings.

testing

5 theme leadership model

By Professor Roger Gill

Theme 1 - Leadership, Vision & Mission
Define and communicate an appealing vision & mission for your organisation.

Theme 2 - Leadership, Shared Values & Corporate Culture
Identify, display, promote & reinforce shared core values as part of developing a strong organisational culture that supports the vision and mission.

Theme 3 - Leadership and Strategy
Develop and implement intelligent business strategies that are informed by core values, scenario planning, and the vision & mission for your organisation.

Theme 4 - Leadership and Empowerment
Empower your people to be able to do what needs to be done in the organisation.

Theme 5 - Leadership and Influence, Motivation and Inspiration
Influence, motivation and inspire your people to want to do what needs to be done.